Bucker bobbin mount screws?

[clown_luthier]

MF screws are not chinesse, and are not crap.
probably the best screws available and their service is great too

[JGundry]

MF screws are not chinesse, and are not crap.
probably the best screws available and their service is great too

The Microfastener brass screws I have are terrible. They break very easily. I swipe the threads across a block of paraffin to prevent them from binding and breaking. But really they break way too easily.

I found an alternative made by Servalite. If you have a tax ID you can order direct from them. The part number for them is BWRP02X4. The catch is the last time I ordered I bought all of their remaining stock, which was only 400 screws. They said the last time they ordered them was in 2007 and that the replacements would certainly come from a different source. So I have to wait and see what those look like.

Possum let us know how the ones you ordered work out. If they are any good I would like to order some. I think these are such a specialty item that if you do find a good source repeated orders would help assure a reliable supply.

[Bill M]

Not having any luck at all. Maybe I'll switch to steel....

Nothing wrong with using steel bobbin screws. Not long ago I had a paf come through the shop that had original steel screws. So, steel screws would also be paf correct. Personally I have experimented with both steel and brass and hear no difference at all.

[Possum]

I ordered some from one place and then found another place and didn't order from them because shipping was real steep, but they did answer my email and said theirs are Chinese but they are made to some international standards so maybe they are better. The MF ones are barely useable, the heads often look smashed together, the slots are shallow the heads aren't really round but almost pan head. I saw these screws on some Rolphs and would love to have that quality but these are unknown source from 3 years ago, probably not even made now....

[clown_luthier]

here are the pics comparation





from left to right: MF, montreux, PAF

stewmac are too short. anyone have any other good source?

[Yves]

The slots strip out real easy and I throw probably a third of them away when if the driver slips and rips the head up. A few heads have actually broken off too.

Well I have some, and I cannot say it strips that easily. Also after reading your post I've tested some sample to see if it would break easily: I've tried to do so but it wouldn't, it would just bend, these are rather "soft" than brittle indeed.
I got them about 2 months ago or so FYI
Besides, I quite like the service from MF.
Now, I know that they have some "turnover" regarding the stocked items.

As for the Stew Mac ones, I haven't had problem with their length either ...
Those I have from SM are about one year old maybe FIY.

Finally I have some from SK (2 years ago maybe), which appear more "vintage" regarding the metal and which thread looks a bit better if I had to comment about this.
However this is not such a heavy duty use for mounting screws, so to me all of them do the job, the only thing is that SK screws are slotted (some will say not vintage correct I guess), and I quite don't like this because once in a while I would slip from the slot and end up with some scracth on the baseplate...

Here is a picture FWIW (left to right: Micro Fastener, Stew Mac, SK)
The on

[copperheadroads]

well if you were considering the annoying slotted head you can find more to choose from
Lee Valley Tools - Important Announcement

[Possum]

None of these are a quality screw except the PAF screw. I have bought a whole stack of screw drivers trying to find some that fit tight in the MF screws, finally found one but a moment's lack of concentration and the head strips out in a flash. Go look at the Rolph screws in my attachment. That is perfection, you'd never have a problem with those. And if you're making PAF repros it just looks cheesy putting these poorly made screws on. The only thing I found that helps is put them in a vise real lightly and whack the head with the screw driver inserted to deepen the slot, but its a pain in the butt and they still look ugly ;-)

[Yves]

None of these are a quality screw except the PAF screw(...) And if you're making PAF repros it just looks cheesy putting these poorly made screws on ....

Well, I was just trying to point out that I haven't had a tragic experience with the mentioned screws (both MF or SM). Speaking repro correct, sure they don't quite look vintage (only SK ones material looks more "vintage" to me from those I have, but sure sloted isn't correct).
Since you or Gundry mentioned using MF at some point, I assumed it was considered kind of OK "ish" by you as for the repro thing.
I am not into that vintage correct repro market, but if I were I think I'd rather look for NOS.
Such people buy surplus stock (and for instance had NOS fillister plain that they got nickel plated for the former):
For Guns & Guitars

Or these:
Fastener Inventory Catalogs

Why not asking to such surplus house and other if there's any chance to carry that #2 3/8 model?

Just some thoughts.

[David Schwab]

And if you're making PAF repros it just looks cheesy putting these poorly made screws on.

Yeah, I like to take all my PAF repros out of the guitar every day so I can look at the quality of the screws on the bottom ...

I understand where you are coming from, but really, do people even care? As long as you make a great sounding pickup, that other stuff is just aesthetic minutiae.

[RedHouse]

Yeah, I like to take all my PAF repros out of the guitar every day so I can look at the quality of the screws on the bottom ...

I understand where you are coming from, but really, do people even care? As long as you make a great sounding pickup, that other stuff is just aesthetic minutiae.

Too funny!

[Possum]

I look at this as a symbol of the decline of the USA. China is eating our lunch. A simple thing like a small wood screw and you simply can't find professionally made ones in this country anymore. I've read reviews on several websites of these same screws that seem to be everywhere and no one has much good to say about them, except they are cheap and low quality. I look at the screws on my PAF's and it just makes me sad. Its the same thing when you try to connect with most US industry websites, they can't be bothered with you unless you want six zillion of something. So how are small American businesses to suceed if industry is so greedy they dont give a rat's ass about small American companies trying to grow. So they lose business to Chinese companies who DO answer their email and WILL do the smaller jobs, then the US companies have the gall to complain about Chinese competition as they slowly watch their business die. Sure, its just a tiny screw?

[David Schwab]

I look at this as a symbol of the decline of the USA. China is eating our lunch. A simple thing like a small wood screw and you simply can't find professionally made ones in this country anymore.

This is true. Things are too expensive to make here, and many workers have no pride in their work. But then you look at the rash of suicides at the FoxConn factory in China, and things aren't all good there either. They gave their workers a 100% pay increase and then worked to get more entertainment into the town they live in for after work. Eventually workers there will want a lot more money, and then the rents will go up and then prices on everything, and then they will be the new US.

(these new emoticons suck)

[JGundry]

This is true. Things are too expensive to make here, and many workers have no pride in their work.

Not true really. You can find people in the US to manufacture every pickup part you would want. I know because I did it. And the parts will be high quality and you will actually have somebody you can either meet with face to face of talk to on the phone. But you can't get parts dirt cheap in the US. If you want screws made in the USA you can get them but order 40,000 if you want a reasonable price and even then they will probably be triple the cost of the Chinese version. Wal Mart drove most manufacturing to China to keep the per unit price as low as possible. It was a business trend that big companies fell for. First they moved manufacturing to Mexico, then China, now to Vietnam. But for a high end specialty item like a boutique pickup made in the USA makes total sense. Better quality and a reliable supply of parts makes it worth it IMO.

[Ronsonic]

This is true. Things are too expensive to make here, and many workers have no pride in their work. But then you look at the rash of suicides at the FoxConn factory in China, and things aren't all good there either. They gave their workers a 100% pay increase and then worked to get more entertainment into the town they live in for after work. Eventually workers there will want a lot more money, and then the rents will go up and then prices on everything, and then they will be the new US.
(these new emoticons suck)

Interesting article here on Chinese life in the big city. Interesting to see how this will all play out.